Quality of Social Support Predicts Hopelessness and Depression Post Spinal Cord Injury

Research has documented elevated levels of depression and suicide in the spinal cord injured (SCI) population, with the majority of suicide attempts occurring within 12 months of injury onset. Social support has been linked with depression and suicidal intent, and this study aimed to determine the impact of the quality and quantity of social support on levels of depression and hopelessness, an indirect indicator of suicide risk in the SCI population. Fifty-three individuals with traumatic SCI at Week 6 of their rehabilitation, and 42 at Week 18, with an approximate male to female ratio of 4:1, completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), and Social Support Questionnaire. Stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed that high quality of social support was associated with low hopelessness and depression scores, being more pronounced at Week 18 postinjury. The impact of social support on psychological well-being demonstrates the importance of fostering and integrating social support in rehabilitation following spinal cord injury.